A Day in Paradise: My 2025 Review of the Apreamare 38ft Capri Tour from Sorrento

So, we’ve all seen the pictures, right? You know, the ones with the impossibly blue water and those giant rocks sticking out of the sea. That is that picture-perfect dream of Capri, and frankly, I had it too. A trip to the Sorrento coast just doesn’t feel complete without, you know, a day spent on the water heading to that famous island. You could take the ferry, of course, which is a totally fine option for many people. But to be honest, if you want to really feel the magic of the place, a private boat tour is just a whole different kind of experience. This year, we decided to really treat ourselves and booked the 38ft Apreamare motorboat for a day, and honestly, it really shifted my perspective on what a perfect day could actually look like. This wasn’t just a simple trip; it sort of felt like borrowing a piece of the good life for a few hours.

First Look at the Dream: The Apreamare 38ft Gozzo

Alright, so walking down to the marina in Sorrento that morning was a little bit exciting. You can pretty much feel the anticipation in the air. When we saw our boat, the Apreamare 38ft, well, it was basically love at first sight. These boats, called a ‘Gozzo Sorrentino,’ are sort of a local legend, a classic wooden style that just looks like it belongs on the Mediterranean. The dark, polished wood was honestly just shining in the morning sun, and the deck was so spacious and inviting, not at all like a cramped tour boat. It was, in a way, like stepping onto a floating piece of Italian craftsmanship. Our skipper for the day, a really friendly local guy named Gianni, was there to greet us with a big, genuine smile, which just, you know, immediately put us at ease. There was no big group to wait for; the day was basically just about us, which felt incredibly special.

Leaving the Mainland: Sorrento Fades into a Postcard

So, the moment the boat pulls away from the dock is actually pretty magical. You feel the engine hum, and suddenly, the sounds of the town just kind of fade away. Gianni steered us out of the busy marina with what seemed like complete ease. The farther we got from the shore, the more the coastline, you know, started to look like one of those beautiful paintings you see in local art shops. All the colorful houses of Sorrento and the cliffs they’re built on just got smaller and smaller, and pretty soon, you could see the whole amazing bay. And then, there’s Mount Vesuvius in the background, which is honestly a sight that gives you a little bit of a chill. Gianni handed us some cool drinks, and we just, you know, settled onto the very comfortable sun deck at the front of the boat. The light sea spray was so refreshing, and the feeling was just one of total, utter freedom, more or less.

Island of Legends: Circling Capri by Sea

Now, getting close to Capri from the sea is seriously the only way to do it. The cliffs just rise up out of the water, and they are so much bigger than you think. Gianni, as our guide, took us on a slow tour around the entire island first, which was honestly the best decision. We saw the Grotta Bianca, or White Grotto, with its chalky white rock formations, and then the Grotta Verde, where the light passing through the water creates this really unusual green glow. The big moment, of course, was seeing the Faraglioni rocks for the first time. They are just absolutely enormous natural arches that stand guard off the coast. Gianni skillfully steered the Apreamare right through the middle arch, which is apparently a local tradition for good luck, and you know, it feels very dramatic. He then found this perfect little secluded cove, a spot that the bigger, more crowded boats just can’t get to. We just dropped anchor there for a while, and jumping into that clear, deep blue water was pretty much a highlight of the whole vacation.

“Actually, Gianni told us, ‘The island shows its true face only from the sea.’ And after seeing it that way, you know, I completely believe him. It felt like we were seeing a secret side of Capri.”

Stepping onto the Island: A Few Hours of Freedom

After our wonderful swim and some more cruising, Gianni dropped us off at Marina Piccola, giving us a few hours of free time to check out the island on foot. You basically have two main choices here. You can stay down low and check out the fancy shops, or you can head up to either Capri town or the even higher Anacapri. We decided to take the funicular railway, which is a little cliffside train, straight up to the main square, the famous Piazzetta. To be honest, this place is all about people-watching, and it’s quite the scene. We just found a little cafe, grabbed a lemon granita—which is like a shaved ice treat that’s a local specialty—and sort of took it all in. The island itself is very polished, full of high-end boutiques and very well-dressed people, which is quite a different feel from the more laid-back mainland. It was really nice to experience it, but at the end of the day, we were actually excited to get back to the peace and quiet of our own private boat.

Life on Board: The Little Things That Mattered

Okay, so let’s talk about the experience on the boat itself, because that’s really what made the day so great. The Apreamare 38ft is just perfectly set up for a day like this. There are big, comfy cushions for sunbathing on the bow, but there’s also a shaded area at the back with a table for when you, you know, need a break from the heat. Gianni had a cooler filled with Prosecco, beer, and lots of water, all for us. After our swim, he had these really fluffy towels waiting for us, which was a very nice touch. He even prepared a simple, yet totally delicious, lunch of Caprese sandwiches, with fresh mozzarella and local tomatoes, and some little pastries and stuff. It was honestly the personal touches that made a difference. Gianni wasn’t just a driver; he was telling us stories about the area and pointing out celebrity villas, and his whole vibe was just so welcoming. This kind of tour felt less like a transaction and more like spending a day with a very cool Italian friend who just happens to own an amazing boat.

Read our full review: [Capri Tour from Sorrento 38ft Motorboat APREAMARE Full Review and Details]
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now ([Capri Tour from Sorrento])